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Eovaldi will likely hit innings limit in near future

Eovaldi will likely hit innings limit in near future

LOS ANGELES -- Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi likely won't make it to the end of the season before he reaches his innings limit, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said before Friday's game.

Eovaldi, who faced his childhood-favorite Houston Astros in his second big league start on Friday, has about 30-35 innings remaining before the team will move him out of the rotation. Mattingly said it's likely Eovaldi will be replaced by John Ely, who has already pitched in a couple of games for the Dodgers this season.

Eovaldi had thrown 108 innings entering Friday's start (103 with Double-A Chattanooga and five last Saturday in his debut) after pitching 98 1/3 innings in 2010. When Eovaldi approaches his limit, Mattingly said he'd prefer to move him to the bullpen instead of shutting him down all together.

"I don't like the thought of stopping a guy at a time during the year," Mattingly said. "There's experience to be gained out of the 'pen."

Eovaldi picked up his first big league win last Saturday, allowing two runs against the D-backs. In 20 games with Chattanooga, he went 6-5 with a 2.62 ERA.